SPRINGDALE — Bentonville and Conway have the dominant swimming and diving programs in Arkansas, but teams such as Springdale Har-Ber are working to close the gap.
AT A GLANCE
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER SWIM SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Jan. 14 Siloam Springs Invitational% 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 Hendrix Invitational (Conway) TBD
Jan. 31 Bentonville Invitational 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 Springdale Har-Ber Invitational 3:30 p.m.
Feb.. 12 District Diving Championships% Noon
Feb. 13 District Swimming Championships$ 5 p.m.
Feb. 22-23 State Swimming and Diving Championships (UALR) TBD
% at John Brown University
$ at Jones Center For Families, Springdale
“Bentonville has a pretty rigorous training program and they all do clubs, but they’re not invincible,” Har-Ber junior John Kirchner said. “We can catch Bentonville.”
That’s the attitude Har-Ber coach Samantha Brown likes from the Wildcats, who had five swimmers place in the top 16 in last year’s district meet. Har-Ber is working toward a better finish this year at the district meet in Springdale and the state meet at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on Feb. 22-23.
Bentonville won both the boys and girls state championships last season, while Conway finished second in the girls and fourth in the boys division. Har-Ber has 39 swimmers this season and is about equally divided between boys and girls.
“Our boys’ team has had some growing years, but I feel like they’re coming into their own,” said Brown, who is in her sixth season with the Wildcats. “So, it’s been a fun year to watch their development.”
Har-Ber is counting on the senior leadership of Corey Evans, Chris Taylor, Cole Williams, Craig Lawrence and Ethan Wilson, the lone competitive diver on the team.
“Ethan Wilson is super awesome in trying to get more points by diving for us this season,” Brown said. “These seniors, plus John Kirchner, a junior, sophomore Andrew Lisle, and freshman Logan Walz, are the core of the team. They are so consistent and dedicated, and they work hard every day.”
The top swimmers on the Har-Ber girls team include junior Margo Osterloh and sophomores Kimberly Huff and Megan Wolf. Huff is also a starter on the Har-Ber volleyball team.
“Margo is a distance swimmer who consistently puts in a good time, and Kimbery is getting faster and faster in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle,” Brown said. “Megan swims for the AquaHogs, and she is also getting faster and faster.”
Har-Ber will be action again Jan. 14 at the Siloam Springs Invitational at John Brown University. The state meet is scheduled for Feb. 22-23 at UALR.
“We’re hoping to get our boys qualified for state in the relays and some individual events as well,” Brown said. “As far as team standings, realistically, it looks like we’re all up putting up a good fight for second place behind Bentonville in the district.
“It will be close between Siloam Springs, Rogers Heritage, Fayetteville and Har-Ber. Springdale also has some good swimmers, and they could get in there as well.”